Name |
HOSKINSON, Riley M [1] |
- From Riley's obit: "Riley M. Hoskinson was born in Monongalia County, West Virginia, January 26, 1819. At the age of nineteen he was converted and joined the Presbyterian church. He was united in marriage to Martha Fisher in Westmoreland-County, Penn, Nov. 2, 1841. To them were | burn eight children, seven of whom are still living. Stuart F.. the oldest, with whom he made bis home in this city; Mr. Eliza J. Freeman, Lafayette, Oregon, Mrs. Sarah E, Kirkban, Prineville, Oregon: Mrs C. A. McCabe, Neodesho, Kansas Mrs. Mary E. Amy, who died in Louisiana several years ago; Mrs Ida L. Anderson, Port Blakeley Washington; William C. Winslow, Washington; Geo. W. Meeker, Camp Meeker, California. In 1853 they moved from Pennsylvania to Rushville, Ill, He enlisted in the army of the North in 1861, in 1862 which he served as commissary sergeant with the 73 Illinois until the close of the war. In 1866 he and his family moved to Auburn Kansas. In 1876 they moved to Coverdale, California, thence to Washington, and settled in what is now known as Eagle Harbor, being the second to build in that place. In 1889 he moved to the state of Georgia, where his wife died seven years ago. He came to Hoopeston with his son in 1902. Mr. Hoskinson has lived a consistent christian since his conversion sixty-eight years ago. His early membership was with the Presbyterian church; while he and his family lived in Pennsylvania and Illinois they allied themselves with the M. E. church. After moving to California they united with the Congregational church, and while at Eagle Harbor, he organized Sunday school that afterwards grew to be a very strong Congregational church When he came to Hoopeston he united with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Hoskinson joined the Odd Fellows in 1831 of which he has been a member ever since. He also joined the Masons in the army camp in 1863 of which he was still a member. (The Martha Fisher mentioned above as the wife of Mr. Hoskinson, was a sister of John Fisher of this city, now deceased, and'a half sister of Abel and Thomas Fisher, both residents of Blandinsville, and Matthias Fisher of Novelty, Mo.--Ed.)"
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Birth |
Jan 26 1819 |
Monongalia Co., WV [1] |
- "Riley M. Hoskinson was born in Monengalia County, West Virginia, January 26, 1819."
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CENSUS |
16 Sep 1850 |
Derry Township. Westmoreland Co., PA [2] |
- Occupation: mason
Value of Real estate: $300
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1850 US Census: Derry Township, Westmoreland Co., PA, p 402
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OCCU |
ca. 1853 |
Pennsylvania [3] |
- Teacher - While listed as a mason in the 1850 census, this letter to the Pennsylvania School Journal from 1853, indicates that Riley was also teaching as early as 1853. The letter records how he learned his playful approach to teaching the alphabet at the Conemaugh Teachers Institute.
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CENSUS |
1855 |
Rushville, Schuyler Co., IL [4] |
- Males 10-20: 1 (Stuart); 30-40:1 (Riley)
Females under 10: 4 (Sarah, Clarissa, Mary, Ida) ; 10-20:1 (Eliza); 30-40: 1 (Martha)
Total: 8; Militia: 1 (Riley)
No other info listed
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1855 Illinois State Census: Rushville Township, Schuyler Co., IL, p 142-143
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OCCU |
1857-1859 |
Rushville, Schuyler Co., IL [5] |
- Teacher - Riley continues teaching after moving to Illinois ca. 1855 as chronicled in The Illinois Teacher. In Vol. III - 1857, he recounts his struggle to become a teacher and presents his philosophy of teaching in three letters or "Experiences" to the editor. In Experience II we see Riley sharing with his Illinois colleagues his approach to teaching the alphabet from his 1853 letter to the Pennsylvania School Journal. Vol. IV - 1858 includes an encounter between a state agent of the Illinois Education Association, Riley and his students at the Sabbath-School Celebration in Rushville, IL where Riley is described as "long a teacher of this village" and the children as "brimming over with happiness." In Vol. V - 1859, Riley is Secretary of the Schuyler County Teachers' Institute, when some historic issues are resolved. See the following excerpts The Illinois Teacher for details.
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CENSUS |
21 Aug 1860 |
Rushville, Schuyler Co., IL [6] |
- Occupation: stone mason
Value of real estate: $1000
Value of personal property: $200
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1860 US Census: Rushville, Schuyler Co., IL, p 332
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MILI |
Jul 1863 |
Rushville, Schuyler Co., IL [7] |
- Occupation: stone mason
73 Reg Ill Inf Co G
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Consolidated listing Civil War Draft: Rushville Township, McDonough Co., IL, p 179
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CENSUS |
1865 |
Rushville, Schuyler Co., IL [8] |
- Entry reads - Age 10 and under: M-2, F-1; age 10-20: F-3; age 20-30: M-1, F-1, age 30-40: 0; age 40-50: M-1, F-1; (no one older); Total: M-4, F-6; No. of males 18-45 subject to military duty: 1; value of live stock: $25; (no other entries)
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1865 Illinois State Census: Rushville, Schuyler Co., IL, p 14
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MILI |
4 Aug 1862 - 12 Jun 1865 [9, 10] |
- Civil War, Commissary Sergeant 73rd Illinois Infantry - The most notable event of Riley's service in the Civil War is chronicled in this letter to his wife. It tells of Riley and his son Stuart's service at the Battle of Chickamauga, GA, their capture by the Confederate Army, escape and flight across Lookout Mountain to the Union Army at Chattanooga, TN. Portions of the letter are also found in The Preacher Regiment, which chronicles the 73rd Illinois Infantry's service in the Civil War. Riley and son Stuart are written of several times in this text. See The Preacher Regiment link for details and period photos from locations where Riley and his son fought, were captured and escaped.
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EVENT |
8 Aug 1868 |
Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS [11] |
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Corn dying in Osage Co 1868 There was apparently a corn blight in Osage County, KS in 1868. Riley Investigates and reports his findings to the Osage County Chronicle: "I pulled up eleven hills of wilted corn and found the roots all cut by the white Grub, of which I took one hundred and ten from the eleven hills. Also, near the roots of much of it are countless thousands of chinch bugs, many of them so small as barely to be discernable." Other crop infestations follow ultimately causing the Hoskinson family to leave Kansas for the West Coast in 1876. |
CENSUS |
28 Jul 1870 |
Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS [12, 13] |
- Edith Garrison apparently adopted by Riley and Martha (Fisher) Hoskinson because she is found living with the family at age two in this census and travels with the family from this census on.
- Occupation: farmer
Value of real estate: $8000
Value of personal property: $1150
- Agricultural census:
60 acres improved, 15 woodland, 33 unimproved
Cash value: farm - $3000, implements - $130
4 horses, 6 milk cows, 10 beef cattle, 3 pigs
Value of livestock: $700
Produce: 75 bushels spring wheat, 200 indian corn
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1870 US Census: Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS, p 22
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1870 US Census, Agricultural: Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS, p p 90
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EVENT |
8 Feb 1871 |
Burlingame, Osage Co., KS [14] |
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Hoskinson land purchase 1871 "NOTICE is hereby, given that I will offer for sale at public auction, at the door of the Court House in Burlingame, on the 11th day of March, between the hours of 10 o'clock a m and 2 o'clock p m the following real estate to wit: the s w qr (1-4) of s e qr (1-4) of sec seven (7) of t 14 r 14 taken as the property of A W Akers, on an execution in favor of S F and R M Hoskinson, for the sum of $67,66, and $10,75 costs, for work and labor done, and improvements made up on said real estate...Given ander my hand on this 8th day of February, A D 1871. A. W. HOOVER, Sheriff." |
EVENT |
18 May 1871 |
Burlingame, Osage Co., KS [15] |
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A bumper crop of peaches 1871 "R. M. Hoskinson left a twig of a peach tree hanging in the book store, which held 67 well formed peaches. He has forty trees, with every branch as full as the above specimen." |
EVENT |
1 May 1872 |
Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS |
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R. M. Hoskinson tree farm 1872 What sounds like an exaggeration with regard to number to trees, the sale notice below proves true. Riley was a lover of trees, fruit in particular, planting a a few thousand on his farm in Osage Co., KS and later on his homestead in Kitsap Co., WA. "R. M. Hoskinson, of Burlingame, has planted several I thousand trees upon his prairie farm among which are oak, walnut, soft maple, elm, white ash, sycamore, calapala, white and yellow willow, mulberry and cottonwood. Many of his cottonwoods are now about thirty feet high and six inches in diameter." |
EVENT |
27 Mar 1874 |
Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS [16] |
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R M Hoskinson's opinion on cotton 1874 "I notice in a late issue of the farmer a few words that may mislead some desirous of trying to the experiment of raising cotton. The words are, "Limestone land is not suited to the growth of cotton, etc."...a large portion of Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama are intensely limestone, and yet they raise cotton in vast quantities...Such at least, was my observation while with "Pap Thomas" during the rebellion. I have grown a good article of cotton in Osage county, Kas." |
EVENT |
21 Aug 1874 |
Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS [17] |
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Plague of grasshoppers 1874 Riley Hoskinson relates the impact of an plague of grasshoppers on Burlingame Township and his beautiful farm. Suspect this plague caused the Hoskinson's to sell heir farm and move to the West Coast in 1876. "They came to this neighborhood on Wednesday, Aug. 11, in countless millions: and such is their voracity that in few hours time desolation reigns supreme. Having had but one and a half inches of rain since the 1tth of June, the corn crop, (what little was left by the chinch bugs,) was very light, and now there none; all is gone, even the stalks that would have made winter feed are being devoured. Their mission seems to be expressly the destruction of man's labor, they pay little or no attention to any thing growing wild. "Their whole nature seems bent on the destruction of fruit trees, grain and vegetables. Nearly all the young fruit trees are now as bare of leaves as if it were mid-winter. The peach and apple crop is being rapidly devoured, while all the cabbage tribe, parsnips, onions, sweet and Irish potatos, and all kinds of cultivated flowers, are now gone or rapidly going. All the northwest portion of this county is in ruins." |
EVENT |
18 Dec 1874 |
Burlingame, Osage Co., KS [18] |
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Riley Hoskinson weather report Osage Co., KS 1874 Riley apparently began taking measurements and reporting the weather Osage Co., KS in the early 187Os. "Through the kindness of Mr. R. M. Hoskinson, we are enabled to give our readers the following meterological report for November: Maximum heat during the during month. (6th and 7th, at noon.) 76° ; greatest cold. (20th) 29. at sunrise; total rain fall. 1.55 inches. Three snows fell during the month-in all, 18 inches--making 3.05 inches of water. The average temperature during the month was 41.90." When he moves to Kitsap Co., WA, Riley becomes the first observer/reporter of the weather in the Pacific Northwest. See example of his reporting from his homestead at Port Blakeley, WA below. |
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The grasshopperized people of the Hoskinson neighborhood 1874 "A car-load of provisions, consisting of corn, flour, the generous gift of friends in Illinois. arrived at. Burlingame a few days ago tor the grasshopperized people of the Hoskinson neighborhood." |
CENSUS |
01 Mar 1875 |
Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS [19] |
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1875 Kansas State Census: Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS, p 40
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EVENT |
4 Nov 1875 |
Seattle, King Co., WA [20] |
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Manifest for steamship Dakota 1875 A VERY interesting article. Indicates that Martha, Stewart Hoskinson and family were in Puget Sound, Washington Territory in 4 Nov 1875. "The following is the list of passengers of the steamship Dakota, which leaves here at 9 o'clock totnigh...Mrs. Hoskinson and infant,...S. F. Hoskinson and two children..." The infant is perhaps David Hill, whom Riley and Martha adopt at some point. He first appears with the family at age 9 in the 1883 Washington Territory census. He would have been an in fact in 1875. The two children with Stewart are presumably his sons Harry and Charles. The article is interesting because tit was published one day before the first ad for selling the Hoskinson farm in Kansas appears in the Osage County Chronicle 5 Nov 1875. The farm did not sell until 1876. Also articles written by Riley Hoskinson appearing in the The Osage County Chronicle in Dec 1876 state the family did not leave Kansas until late Oct, early Nov 1876, and then to move to California not Seattle. |
EVENT |
5 Nov 1875 |
Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS [21] |
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Hoskinson farm for sale 1876 R. M. and Martha Hoskinson put their farm up for sale in preparation for move west. The place sounds almost magical. The land is the same in part purchased at auction in article above. "This farm is situated seven miles northwest of Burlingame, and consists of 108 acres. (se ½ of s7, t14, r14.) 12 or which is timber land; the Wakarusa creek runs through the north end; has two good wells of water and any amount of water can be got at from 10 to 20 feet; has about three miles of excellent hedge fence around and through it, 96 acres enclosed; about 70 acres under cultivation; about 600 apple trees. mostly bearing: 200 bearing peach trees, all of the best of fruit; besides these there are plum, cherry, pear, quince, grape, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, and numerous other trees, vines and shrubbery too tedious to mention; also an extensive and excellent stone quarry, easy of access; large and commodius coral for cattle enclosed with stone wall; some 2,000 ornamental trees, such as Cottonwood, Maple, Ash, Box, Sycamore, Elm, Silver Leaf and Willow; also good log dwelling house, 20x20 feet, 1 1/2 stories high, with one-story frame kitchen, 15x20 feet attached; cellar under the whole with rock bottom; stone chicken house. 10x20 feet; log stable, 15x20 feet; stone pig pen; frame corn crib, 9x18 ft. Said farm has a public road on east and south sides. Has now on it about 30 acres in corn, all mature, part of which will make 50 bu per acre; also 1 good wagon; 4 plows; 1 harrow; 3 sets harness, besides hoes, shovels, spades, rakes, forks, axes, stone tools, &c, also our half of the increase of a lot of cattle, and 5 horse beasts; some 15 tons of Hungarian and 40 tons of prairie hay, together with all our household and kitchen furniture, excepting only bedding clothing, books and pictures. Will sell the whole for $2,700....RILEY M HOSKINSON, MARTHA HOSKINSON" |
EVENT |
28 Sep 1876 |
Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS [22] |
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R M Hoskinson sells farm 1876 Took almost a year to find a buyer after posting for sale in Nov 1875. Also appears the buyer, Mr. Beckus, only wanted the land, not the household goods, equipment and livestock which the Hoskinson's had to auction: "-Mr. R. M. Hoskinson, living seven miles northwest of Burlingame, has sold his place to F. B. Beckus, of this county, and will shortly leave for Oregon, where he intends to make his home hereafter. He will offer for sale on the 10th of October all his household goods, farming implements and stock at reasonable terms. |
EVENT |
Oct 1876 |
Cloverdale, Sonoma Co., CA [23] |
- Riley and Martha Hoskinson left Kansas after selling their farm, likely sometime in Oct or early Nov 1876, to settle in Cloverdale, Sonoma Co., CA. Why this place? Not sure. Riley wrote at least three letters to the editor of his former hometown newspaper, The Osage County Chronicle, from California. The first letter published in the Dec 14, 1876 edition tells of their trip from Kansas to California - It cost roughly $70 to make the trip via the Transcontinental railroad to San Francisco, and then steamer, railroad and wagon to Cloverdale. The second letter published immediately following the first describes the community and state of agricultural around Cloverdale - "We like it exceedingly well." The second letter closes with Riley's summary of weather conditions - "Since here it has rained about two inches. Greatest cold, Nov. 30-34 degs.; greatest heat, same day, noon--79 degs.; Average temperature, 57 degs."
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Letter from California 1876 Written to his hometown newspaper, The Osage County Chronicle, Riley Hoskinson tells of his and wife Martha's journey from Osage Co., KS to a new home in Cloverdale, Somona Co., CA. The trip cost the two of them roughly $70 and was quite pleasant: "From Topeka to Omaha, $11.00; from Omaha to San Francisco, on the Emigrant Train, $45.00; from "Frisco" by steamer and railroad to Coverdale, $4.25 each. The arrangements for emigrants are admirable. At Omaha the Railroad Compa- ny have a large house called the Emigrant House, where all are cared for in excel- lent style, at $1.00 per day. Here the names of all are taken that have procured tickets: and then all are mustered near the cars, and as each family or individual is called, they, or he, are placed in one of the cars, and each passenger allowed one entire seat, which must be kept till they reach Ogden, when they are changed into cars from California, in the same manner as before. On reaching Sacramento, Cal., the same nice arrangement takes place in the transfer from cars to steamer. Plenty of food, dry wood, and excellent water are furnished the entire route. Provisions plenty, to be had at most all the stopping places, and mostly at reasonable rates. Where two or more persons go together they can purchase a kind of cushion that just fills the space between the seats, and thus make a comfortable bed. Thus we found the trip quite pleasfortable (the last word likely a typo by the editor)." The final stage of the journey "...we took stage 65 miles to Albion, situated on the Ocean shore; went by wagon 10 miles out into the Red Wood region; found our children all well, and busy making railroad ties out of those monster trees, many of which are 14 feet in diameter, and 300 feet high. I helped measure one that was 45 feet around.....Splitting out and hauling railroad ties pays tolerably well, but is very hard work."
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Letter from California - 2 1876 In this letter published in The Osage County Chronicle immediately following his first letter to the editor, Riley Hoskinson describes the community and state of agricultural in his new home of Cloverdale, Somona Co., CA: "I find everything OVERDONE. Most all the trades and professions are in this condition. Merchandising in all its various branches is quite overdone. Vine culture is entirely overdone. Grapes by tons, and of the finest quality are now wasting in the vineyards, and are common stock to any one who wants them. Excellent apples sell at 1 1/2 cents per lb. The best of wine sells at 20 cents per gallon. Provisions of all kinds are as cheap as with you, except butter, eggs and chickens. Butter is 50 cents per pound: eggs, 45 to 60 cents per dozen; chickens from $6 to $9 per dozen....Farming here pays well, as there are but few destructive insects to disturb the crops. Wheat is being sown now, and I am told, will be sown all winter. Some are planting out trees, some making garden, etc. The weather is most delightfully pleasant - no freeze - no wind - flowers of all kinds in profusion. We have excellent church and school privileges. Society of the best. The kindness so far shown us has exceeded all our expectations. We feel perfectly at ease. We have no need to be homesick. In short, we are contented and happy as it seems possible for human beings to be." Riley's opinion of California would swing very negative over the next 4 months. In May 1977, he and wife Martha would leave California for the Washington Territory. |
EVENT |
5 Oct 1876 |
Burlingame, Osage Co., KS [24] |
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Riley resigns from signal service 1876 "R. M. Hoskinson has resigned his appointment as observer and reporter, from this section of country, for the Signal Service of the U. S. army and Department of Agriculture, and has recommended the appointment of B. F. Beckus, living northwest of town, as his successor." |
EVENT |
Apr 1877 |
Cloverdale, Sonoma Co., CA [25] |
- In the this third letter from California, published May 8, 1877, Riley laments moving to California: "I have been repeatedly asked "How do poor men make a living in California?"- Answer: "They don't live at all--they just breathe a little....Thousands of the citizens of California would gladly return east if they could get the means to do so Men are dally passing through Cloverdale begging for work and food, having been brought here by false friends and lying periodicals." One can argue that Riley's initial glowing letters from California to his friends in Kansas are "lying periodicals." Riley and Martha left California for the Washington Territory roughly a month after this letter was written.
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A gloomy picture of California 1877 In this third letter from California to the editor to in The Osage County Chronicle, Riley laments moving to California: "I have been repeatedly asked "How do poor men make a living in California?"- Answer: "They don't live at all--they just breathe a little. Boarding costs $5 per week, a good pair of boots $16, womens' fine shoes $12 per pair, at the shoe shops. Most all labor on the roads, in the woods, in the fields, in the hotels, wash-houses, cooks and servants of all kinds, is performed by Chinese and Digger Indians, as these can be hired at about half the wages necessary to keep a white man or woman alive. The Chinese pervade all parts of the coast, and they virtually constitute a system of slavery about equal to that in the Southern States. I am now fully prepared to say to every well-to-do man or woman in Kansas, stay where you are, unless you want a whistle; if you do, it's here for you, and a very dear one at that. ....Thousands of the citizens of California would gladly return east if they could get the means to do so Men are dally passing through Cloverdale begging for work and food, having been brought here by false friends and lying periodicals." One can argue that Riley's initial glowing letters from California to his friends in Kansas are "lying periodicals." Riley and Martha left California for the Washington Territory roughly a months after this letter was written. |
EVENT |
22 May 1877 |
Seattle, King Co., WA |
- Riley and Martha arrive in Seattle per the following news articles.
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EVENT |
25 May 1877 |
Seattle, King Co., WA [26] |
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Hoskinsons arrive in WA Terr 1877 News article noting the arrival of the Hoskinsons in Washington Territory: "Passengers for Seattle. - ...R M Hoskinson, wife and child." |
EVENT |
25 May 1877 |
Bainbridge Island, Kitsap Co., WA [27] |
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Small pox outbreak on Bainbridge Island 1877 Interesting article about a small pox outbreak on Bainbridge Island, about the same time the Hoskinson's were arriving in Seattle, and only a year before they moved to their homestead on Bainbridge Island. Stewart Hoskinson's 3rd wife Nellie Burnett Andrews lost three children ages infant, 3 and 5 years in 1878 in Seattle while with her first husband Stephen Andrews. Small pox may have been the cause. The article contains a lot of racism and fear-mongering re potential spread by local Indians: "SMALL POX - ...the outbreak of small pox at Port Orchard is proving to be quite a serious matter; like a prairie fire in the West, there is no telling where it will end....Two white men and several half-breed children at Port Orchard are down with the disease, while two Indian have already died of it....Indians often come direct from the homes of their sick friends to Port Madison and Blakely and mingle with people and other Indians (note Indians are apparently no people!) there, we are further informed...Indians are naturally very cautious in exposing themselves to contagious diseases. But though they regard such pestilence with a sort of superstitious horror, and are generally disposed to give infected neighborhood a wide berth, their fear is that of crude ignorance, and as they are entirely uncontrolled by reason, they act in such case very much on the same principle as panic stricken beast during a fire, which in their terror have been known to plunge headlong into the flames, when every effort was made to abet their escape. Therefore it is but folly to claim that the natural fear the Indians entertain of this disease will prevent a spread of it among themselves, or their communicating it to the white population...The authorities of Kitsap county should at once blockade Port Orchard harbor, and shut in the diseased Indians and white men so effectually as to prevent the possibility of their communication with other Indians in any manner. Unless this be done the smallpox is certain spread, and, as we said before, there is no knowing where it will end." The clipping goes on to relate a story about a doctor investigating a small death at Salmon Bay, north of Seattle, where another outbreak was expected.
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EVENT |
12 Jul 1877 |
Seattle, King Co., WA [28] |
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Hoskinsons move to Washington Territory 1877. Riley's first of many letters to The Osage Chronicle from Washington Territory after leaving California. "We left California on the 18th of last May and reached Seattle, in Washington Territory, in four and one-half days. Came on board an ocean steamer. Seattle is a live town of 4.000 inhabitants; business driven with a rush, lumber and coal being the principal article of trade. These, and especially the coal, seem inexhaustible...Work is plenty and wages good; society of the best. Good schools and good churches well attended. More there is a Sabbath, at least to the majority of the citizens (In his letters to Kansas, Riley was very critical of Californian's neither resting nor attend church on Sunday)...,The soil is deep, rich sand, water of the best, towers on every hillside, climate very mild and the temperature equal. It makes me feel that to live is a pleasure. We have bought 33 and 68-100 acres of excellent land two and one-half miles distant from Seattle, for 8325.00 and expect to build us a shanty and move into it at once....One item of interest I notice is that nearly everybody seems to be in good health and fine spirits, while in California the healthy looking ones were the exception, not the rule." The land here is almost certainly the same land Riley offers for sale six months later in Jan 1878 in preparation for moving to Bainbridge Island. |
EVENT |
27 Aug 1877 |
Seattle, King Co., WA [29] |
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Early days in Seattle 1877 In this second letter to friends in Kansas dated Aug 27, 1877, Riley talks about his early days in Seattle, particularly his agricultural success on their land in Smith's Cove. Riley's letter suggests a paradise: "This is truly a pleasant place to live; society of the best, business brisk, climate very equable, temperature rarely in summer descending below 50° or ascending above 80°. No storms of any kind and seldom wind enough to carry a sheet of paper. Light rains all the summer at intervals of a few days. Vegetation green and lovely all the time. Things in the vegetable line grow as if by magic. In twenty-seven days from planting we had lettuce and radishes fit for the table. In six weeks potatoes and turnips, sown June 19, are now six inches in diameter, and all other vegetables are growing in like manner. The fruit crop is enormous; it must be seen to be realized. Nearly every kind of fruit tree must be propped or break. Some specimens of sweet cherries measured 1-1/2 inches in diameter, strawberries from 5-1/2 to 9 inches in circumference. Most of the apples are now big and are very large, and those now ripe are very fine. Peaches and grapes do not thrive here, but are shipped in large quantities from California." The only downside he writes of..."The land is hard to clear, as the timber crop is very large and dense..." |
EVENT |
28 Jan 1878 |
Smith's Cove, Seattle, King Co., WA [30] |
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Riley offers for sale his land in Smith's Cove 1878 "For Sale! VALUABLE LOT Of 33 1-2 Acres, LYING ON SMITH'S COVE, 2 1/2 MILES North of the Centre of Seattle. Sald land in beautifully situated, so as to command a view of a large portion of the Bay and Sound; has Spring of never-falling water; soil good, well adapted to the production of fruits and vegetables. Six acres are about half cleared. Said land is offered at $20 per acre." $20 and acre is over 10X was Riley paid for the land six months earlier per his Jul 12, 1877 letter to The Osage County Chronicle. |
RESI |
13 Feb 1878 |
Bainbridge Island, Kitsap Co., WA [31, 32, 33] |
- In 1878, Riley and Martha Hoskinson and their children, arrive at Eagle Harbor on the southeast side of Bainbridge Island, WA. The Hoskinsons claim 160 acres near a creek on the site where downtown Winslow (later renamed Bainbridge Island) will stand. This article, and this article, and this article, and this article describe the family's early life in Winslow and the early development of the town. This article describes the demise of the Hoskinson home on Bainbridge Island and a water tower on the property built by Riley and son Stuart.
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EVENT |
4 Jun 1878 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [34] |
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Seattle weather 1878 Within a year of moving to the Seattle area Riley is already reporting the weather. |
EVENT |
6 Jun 1878 |
Eagle Harbor, Kitsap Co., WA [35] |
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Hoskinson settlement in Eagle Harbor 1878 "Quite a settlement is springing up on Eagle Harbor, Kitsap county, about a mile and a half from Port Blakely. There are already six families located there, those of Messrs. R. M. Hoskinson, James Ryan, J. T. Hoskinson, W. C. Hoskinson, Mr. Reeves and Mr. J. C. Hornbeck....The Messrs. Hoskinson are experimenting. They have set themselves to the undertaking of demonstrating to the Puget Sound public and the world generally, the practicability of farming our fir and cedar uplands with profit. We predict the success of the experiment without doubt or hesitation." Not sure who the J. T. Hoskinson mentioned in the article is. A brother to Riley? |
EVENT |
9 Sep 1878 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [36] |
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The weather in Washington Territory 1878 Everone for reporting on the weather, in this letter Riley shares the climate of Washington Territory with readers of The Osage Chronicle, climate very mild when compared to the extremes of Kansas. A few interesting nuggets from his letter: "Sun stroke and frozen fingers are not heard of on Puget Sound." There is also "No use here for lightning rod peddlers.I have not seen a lightning rod since I have lived on the Pacific coast." Recall the Hoskinson's left Kansas after two of three years of crops failures due to weather and insects. By comparison he writes: "Such an event as a grain or fruit failure is unknown on Puget Sound. This season fruit is very abundant, and many of the small fruits remain long in bearing. We now have, September 9th, raspberries and strawberries in full bearing. Vegetables of almost all kinds grow here luxuriantly, and this might appropriately be called the land of flowers. Their size, color and beauty seem to intensify in this lovely climate." I'm sure Riley's Kansas friends were envious. |
EVENT |
20 Dec 1878 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [37] |
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Washington Territory's march toward statehood 1878 In this letter to The Osage Chronicle Riley writes of the Washington Territory's march toward statehood. Of note, his population estimate of 60,000. Recall that when he arrived in Seattle two years prior in 1877 he stated the population was only 4,000. While the 60,000 is for the territory as whole, the majority would certainly live in Seattle suggesting very rapid growth in Seattle's population from 1877-1878. Washington did not become a state until 11 Nov 1889, roughly ten years after this letter. "We now have a state constitution, adopted at the November election by a majority of 3,321, and a Republican Delegate to Cengress, whose majority is 1,301. We expect soon to knock at the door of Congress for admission into the great sisterhood of States. How we shall fare remains to be seen. You will soon hear from us. We now number about 60,000, and, as the figures show, largely Republican. Out public school system is equal to that of any State in the Union. Where ever there are fifteen children of school age, they are allowed a school district." |
EVENT |
6 Jun 1879 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [38] |
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Work for Immigration Society "I enclose to you a letter from J. L. Mills, Esq., El Paso, Col, as a sample of the inquiries pouring in upon me from various States of the Union. I send this to you that your Immigration Society may more fully recognize the necessity of sending truthful information to the States east and south of us. The Directory will not fill the demund, as it is nearly all Seattle." |
EVENT |
26 Jun 1879 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [39] |
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The "mineralogy" of Washington Territory 1879
Here Riley follows up on his promise in his 9 Jan 1879 letter to The Osage Chronicle to write about the "mineralogy" of the Washington Territory. "It is generally conceded by experts that the whole Puget's Sound basin is one vast coal field of from six to nine feet in thick- ness, and besides all this, coal, in vast quantities, exists on Bellingham Bay, on the north, and around Gray's Harbor on the west, and is said to exist in every county in the territory. Of this last statement I am not posted. Coal also exists in endless quantities in British Columbin, on Vancouvers' Island and at the mouth of Puget's Sound, or Straits of Fuca, as it is sometimes called." He adds: "Quoting from the San Francisco Journal of Commerce. we find that city alone, imported from the coal mines near Seattle, during the year 1878, the vast amount of "113,000 tons," and the demand is greater than the supply. With present facilities for shipment, the Seattle mines can export about 13,000 tous per month. This coal in San Francisco is worth about $7.50 per ton." The reference to the San Francisco Journal of Commerce again shows Riley was very widely read for a man living on the frontier of the U.S. |
EVENT |
28 Sep 1879 |
King Co., WA [40] |
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Hoskinsons win big at the King Co. Industrial Fair 1879 Riley wins prizes and honorable mentions for variety of vegetables and grasses. Martha wins in seed peas, pickles, and several sewing and quilting categories. Daughter Ida also wins in a few sewing categories. Prizes are $1 for each food related win, butter knives and salt spoons for the sewing and quilting categories. |
EVENT |
6 Jan 1880 |
Seattle, King Co., WA [41] |
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Letters of Inquiry 1880 In addition to being a prolific letter writer to editors of various newspapers, Riley apparently corresponded with readers of said letters from all over the country. In this article, he relates his responses to: "One man wants to know whether it would pay him to bring out and run a portable sawmill. Another wants to know if there is an opening here for a brickyard. A third inquiries about dairying. Still another wants to know if we have room for one more blacksmith. An individual asks if a paper mill will pay. A young, hearty woman inquires if she, able and willing and not ashamed, can find work to support herself. Another lady writes: "Is there a chance for me to get a home where I can have good society and school my fatherless children?...", serving as friendly employment advisor to prospective Seattle immigrants. |
CENSUS |
04 Jun 1880 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [42] |
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1880 US Census: Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA, p 6B
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EVENT |
7 Jun 1880 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [43] |
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From Washington Territory 7 Jun 1880 Beginning in June 1880, Riley wrote at least letters to the editor on the Cloverdale Reveille, the local newspaper when the Hoskinsons lived in Cloverdale, CA prior to leaving for Washington Territory. In this first letter Riley admonishes a Mr. Wm. Frazier, who wrote disparagingly of the territory in the May 6 edition of the Reveille saying: "If there is no pay in the mines then I would not give & pinch of snuff for the whole country." Riley responds the man doesn't know what he's talking about, suggesting he may "never left his boat....But the mines Will pay, and of this there ie no doubt. Every few days new discoveries of rich Quartz lends are being made in various places. One other fact and the In am done. If the whole country is so utterly worthless why does the Pacific Mail Steamship Company send twice a month those magnificent floating palaces as the "Alaska," "Dacotah," (should read Dakota) "City of Panama," "Chester," and such vessels? Is it merely to gratify the curiosity of a few sight seers who want to look at our "hills, woods and water, and then curse the country and return? Nay verily, each one goes back loaded with wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, fine woods, and numerous other articles too tedious to mention. To any of your citizens who are willing to work, and want a home in a pleasant land, we most emphatically say COME." |
EVENT |
30 Sep 1880 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [44] |
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From Washington Territory 30 Sep 1880 In this letter to the Cloverdale Reveille, Riley relates the story and results of the Hoskinson family's move to Washington Territory. "As I was at one time a resident of your beautiful town, Some at least of your readers may be interested in hearing what we have done since landing at Seattle. W. T. Wife, self and son, first bought 33 acres near Seattle (this would be their first homestead at Smith's Cove - ed.) Cleared ground, dug with mattock, planted seed, fenced the same, and raised splendid garden, enough for ourselves, and quite a lot to sell. Also nearly cleared six acres more, then sold the same at an advance of 200 dollars. Moved to Bainbridge Island, near Port Blakely. Miles took a Soldiers Homestead of 160 acres. Cleared two acres, dug some with mattock & spade, again planted garden, raised enough for home use, and considerable sold besides In the mean time carried lumber from the beach, sixty rods distant (one rod = 16 1/2 feet so a total distance of about 1000 feet), built a dwelling house 16 by 24 feet, one half story high 10 foot shed on all sides, hen house 34 by 30 feet, Woodhouse 14x36 feet, grain house 12X14 feet, two stories high. Slashed and burned about six acres more land. Last spring a year planted, 200 fruit trees, of apple, Pear, Peach. Quince, Plum, Prune, and Cherry, also Currants, Gooseberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, and Strawberries, besides many other articles to tedious to mention. Now for the result, so far his season from the eleventh of an acre in strawberries we picked 316 gallons or 37 bushels, sold them at from 40 cents to one dollar per gallon. Sold 20 gallons of raspberries at 50 cents per gallon, while several of our apples pears, plum, and cherry trees produced fruit this season, and the trees are only in their 4th years growth. Many of our strawberries measured six inches round, and our plums five and half to six inches. The sales from garden this season so far exceed 150 dollars and our poultry (white leg-horn) have neted us since January 1st 1880, nearly two hundred dollars more. The assesor, when here in June last valued our homestead at one thousand dollars. When we left Coverdale we had less than five hundred dollars all told, and we have no disposition whatever to want a way from this lovely country." In closing, Riley also makes some very disbarring remarks about the Chinese people in California: "We would gladly have remained in your town, had encouragement been given us instead of Chinese. These are the withering blight of your noble State." |
EVENT |
7 Oct 1880 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [45] |
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From Washington Territory 7 Oct 1880 Riley again responds to a to a critique of Washington Territory in the Cloverdale Reveille. Someone named Waite in the Aug 26 edition of the paper apparently wrote: "The winters are cold and frequently causes great loss of stock. There are many there who would like to leave, if they only had the means to get away with &c.," and that the Territory is "overrun with emigrants &c." Hoskinson responds, "I am not aware of a single family that wants to sell out and return, nor do I know of a single farm for sale at any price.," and then proceeds to roll out his copious weather data to refute Waite's argument that the climate is too cold, ending with "Grass grows luxuriantly and remains green the year round." |
EVENT |
12 Dec 1880 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [46] |
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Update on the Washington Territory 1880 In this letter to The Osage Chronicle Riley gives a general update of the region's climate, population, finances, and schools. Of note: "Financially, our Territory has never before been so prosperous. Emigration and capital are pouring in; improvements on every hand; not an einpty house in Seattle, and the demand for more is so great that a multitude of artizans are constantly busy." Seattle is is growing rapidly and is expected to "...bound forward into a city of thirty-thousand inside the next tie years. The city is now laid out eastward to lakes Washington and Union, one and one-half miles and along the Sound for nearly four miles." Washington's first university has been built. "Work is plenty, wages good and cash paid for everything. Mr. Willard has contracted for two immense steamships to help carry away the coal brought to Seattle." And of special note to his Kansas readers: "Quite a large number of the Kansas colony are now located at Turnwater, near Olympia, and are about to purchase that splendid water power, and start a variety of manufactories at that point." He ends with encouragement for Kansas prohibition and reveals himself to be anti-dog: "It is very gratifying to us to read of the rapid strides your noble State is making on the high road to prosperty. As you appear to be about to kill out that dreadful curse, the liquor traffic. I think you need another law of equal stringency, and that is to kill off all the worthless dogs in the State..." |
EVENT |
28 Apr 1881 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [47] |
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Mills of the Puget Sound 1881 Riley updates The Osage Chronicle on employment and the growth in saw mills in the Puget Sound: "All the mills on the Sound except one are running on full time and are worked to their fuil capacity. Port Blakely, already an immense concern, is adding a third gang saw capable of cutting twenty-four boards at a time. Its cutting capacity with this addition will be 100,000 feet every twelve hours. The mill at Port Gamble is still larger, and the mills at Port Madison and Tacoma are about the size of that at Blakely No one coming here need remain an hour idle. Common laborers get one dollar per day and board; carpenters, $3 per duy, without board." He also writes about the weather, noting a more severe winter though still the "...greatest cold was twenty-four degrees above zero," which Im sure his Kansas readers would have enjoyed. |
EVENT |
20 Mar 1882 |
Bainbridge Island, Kitsap Co., WA [48, 49] |
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Homestead Certificate No. 1358 to Riley M. Hoskinson, Bainbridge Island, Kitsap Co., WA, 1882 This certificate apparently formalizes ownership of the homestead the Hoskinson's moved to in 1878 composing the "north half of the southwest quarter and the south half of the northwest quarter of section twenty-six in township twenty-five north of range two east of the Willamette Meridian in Washington Territory containing one hundred and sixty acres." Today this land would be north and west of the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal in Eagle Harbor, roughly centered on location of the present day Bainbridge Island Farmers Market. See plat map below. Interestingly the document is purportedly signed by Chester A. Arthur, President of the United Sates of America! Almost certainly signed on his behalf by S. W Clark, Recorder of the General Land office, instead. |
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Plat map Bainbridge Island 1856 Original plat of the island from 1856. Sources indicate the Hoskinson's moved to homestead on the island in 1878 and were among its first settler. The Hoskinson homestead, described in the land patent above is highlighted in yellow of the map. Today this land would be north and west of the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal in Eagle Harbor, roughly centered on location of the present day Bainbridge Island Farmers Market. |
EVENT |
4 May 1882 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [50] |
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Send information East 1882 Riley again beseeches local officials to send information for immigrating to Washington Territory to eastern States: "I have had numerous letters published in several Eastern papers and have answered more than three hundred private letters from individuals, asking information respecting this Territory, and have sent off at least one-half of all the city papers I get. I have no other interest to serve in all this than to try and benefit my fellow man. It seems to me if all others who are directly interested in the settlement of our Territory would do as much in proportion to their means and ability...Why will not our monied men awake to the best interests of our common country." |
EVENT |
8 May 1882 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [51] |
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The Far West 1882 In this letter to the Lincoln, KS Banner Riley cautions those thinking of immigrating to the Washington Territory by wagon to think again. "If any one coming here, from Kansas, or any of the adjoining States, have any regard for his time, to say nothing of his expenses, he will not be so foolish as to attempt to come here by wagon. And please let me give you an instance in point: This spring a year, two young men started from Alma, Wabaunsee county, Kansas, for Puget Sound, and to save money they came by wagon They had two good horses, a good wagon. It took them till October to make the trip; and, upon their arrival their wagon was about done for, as was also their harness, one of their horses died soon ofter their arrival, and the other was so used up as to be almost worthless; besides all this they spent for feed and provisions, on the way, $160 cash. To have come on the railroad and the ocean steamers, would have cost them each about $60, and the loss of fourteen days time, and then they could have each found read, employment at thirty dollars per month and boarding, as this is the least wages paid here; besides all this, they would have arrived here in the spring season and had the whole season before them in which to become acclimated." |
EVENT |
20 Oct 1882 |
Eagle Harbor, Kitsap Co., WA [52] |
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Five year anniversary of Hoskinson homestead at Eagle Harbor/Port Blakely 1882 Riley gives brief update on his homestead to The Seattle Post Intelligencer: "Our fruit trees, now five years old, are loaded with fruit; we have all the apples, plums, prunes and cherries we can use, and quite a lot of nice pears. Our strawberry crop was three hundred and thirty-two gallons, sold for $175, all in hard money. Last year our one hundred hens netted as $188; this year they are doing equally as well." |
CENSUS |
Feb 1883 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [53] |
- Unclear who C. J. Hoskinson is. Age and initials do not fit any of Riley and Martha's children. Could be a spouse of William.
- David apparently adopted by Riley and Martha (Fisher) Hoskinson because he joins family in this census and remains with the family through subsequent censuses.
- Occupation: farmer
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1883 Washington State Census: Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA, p 16
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EVENT |
4 Nov 1883 |
Eagle Harbor, Kitsap Co., WA [54] |
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Riley offers part of his Eagle harbor land for sale 1883 "ANYONE WISHING TO PURCHASE a tract of 80 acres of land, beautifully situated on Eagle Harbor, nine miles west of Seattle, would do well to call and see it. The quality of the land is the same as I now cultivate. Price, $10 per acre." |
EVENT |
1 Dec 1883 |
Eagle Harbor, Kitsap Co., WA [55] |
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Teacher wanted for Eagle Harbor 1883 Riley begins advertising for a teacher for the school he helped build at Eagle Harbor. |
EVENT |
10 Dec 1883 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [56] |
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Riley writes in favor of women's suffrage and prohibition 1883 In this letter to The Osage Chronicle Riley reveals he is 1) a huge supporter of women's suffrage: "Our Legislature, just adjourned, has conferred the right of suffrage upon the women of the Territory, and it only wants a little time to test this great question whether or not, it will prove a benefit in the way of purifying the filthy pool of politics. One thing is certain, It is a just and righteous law, and the sooner equal suffrage is adopted in all the states, the better it will be for our great country." and 2) he very much in favor of temperance and prohibition: "A bill almost passed the Legislature to greatly increase the license for all intoxicants, but this eternal tinkering with so grave an evil, is only to acknowledge we are too weak to cope with so formidable an enemy, and strengthen its advocates...There is only one way out of this difficulty, and that is present and eternal prohibition." |
EVENT |
16 Oct 1884 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [57] |
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History recap of Port Blakely 1884 Another update on the Washington Territory. Riley writes against the railroads seeking land grants and right-of-ways, again voices his support for women's suffrage and prohibition, and notes the Puget sound mills are back running at capacity after a downturn. He ends with a recap of Port Blakely's history: "Six years ago, James Ryan, his family and mine were the sole occupants of this beautiful region around Eagle Harbor; no roads, no church, no school, while now we have all of these, together with twenty-six families and two steamboats each making two trips a week to and from, carrying passengers each way between this and the city of Seattle, at fifty cents per capita. Large manufacturing establishments are expected soon to be erected on this water, the necessary lands having been secured sometime ago. Weather splendid, Emigrants still pouring in, and still there is room for all those who are willing to work." The expected large manufacturing establishments became the Hall brothers shipyard. Built by Winslow and Henry Knox Hall, the Hall brothers shipyard was by the late 1880's "the world's largest sawmill under one roof." (Port Blakely Mills & Mill Town - Historical Buildings/Cultural Resource Survey, Port Blakely Mill Company, Apr 1992) "Between 1881 and 1904, the Hall Brothers launched 77 vessels of every size and rig, including barks, barkentines, three-, four-, and five-masted schooners, steamers, a tug, a government revenue cutter and several yachts. Hall Brothers was largely responsible for building most of the schooners for the Pacific Coast lumber trade" (White, Gary M, "The Port Blakely Years," Hall Brothers Shipyards, Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2008, pp. 8–9) |
EVENT |
1885 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [58] |
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Riley M. Hoskinson homestead and surrounding area ca. 1884-1886 This photograph was taken of the Hoskinson homestead by Riley Hoskinson's son Stewart. In the foreground left is a barn. If you look closely you can see a horse drawn buggy parked in front. The trees behind are the fruit orchard Riley planted and writes about in his many letters, particularly his letter to the Cloverdale Reveille, 30 Sep 1880: "Last spring a year planted, 200 fruit trees, of apple, Pear, Peach. Quince, Plum, Prune, and Cherry, also Currants, Gooseberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, and Strawberries, besides many other articles to tedious to mention." Note that the photo was likely taken in Spring as the fruit trees appear to be in bloom. The house behind is presumably Riley and wife Martha's. It looks to have been added on to several times since the Hoskinsons arrived on Bainbridge Island in 1878. To the right of the house is windmill (it looks black in this photo) with a three tiered white structure in front believed to contain Riley's instruments for recording the weather (temperate, barometric pressure, etc.) As a member of the Signal Service of the US Army and Dept. of Agriculture, Riley recorded local weather conditions and reported them to The Seattle Intelligencer and the federal government throughout his time on Bainbridge Island. There appear to be other houses behind the Hoslkinsons, presumably the homes other homesteaders. It is interesting to note the palisade-style fencing that borders the road and surrounds the barn and other buildings. This would have been quite an undertaking to construct, involving thousands of individual boards. All along the right side of the photograph the land has been cleared of trees and burned. This is perhaps the land Riley began offering for sale in Nov 1883 and was still offering for sale in Feb 1886. In 1883, he was offering 80 acres. In 1886, he offers lots of 5, 10 or 20 acres, perhaps to attract smaller buyers. Note the price has increased substantially from $10/acre in 1883 to $30/acre in 1886. The 1886 advertisement notes the land has been logged and burned, but is not yet cleared. Finally, note the tree stump in front of the barn. This gives an idea of the size of trees felled to clear the Hoskinsons land. The stump is roughly the same width as the length of the buggy in front of the barn, which would make it 10+ feet in diameter and 15-20 feet tall. The burned stump near the road at the the bottom left of the photo looks to be from a tree only a bit smaller in diameter. |
CENSUS |
Feb 1885 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [59] |
- Occupation: farmer
22 year old Mary E. Hoskinson must be Mary E. (Towler) Hoskinson, wife of William (Riley and Martha's daughter Mary E would be 34 in 1885)
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1885 Washington State Census: Kitsap Co., WA
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EVENT |
22 Jun 1885 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [60] |
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Washington Territory in depression 1885 In this letter to The Osage Chronicle, Riley writes of an economic depression in the Washington Territory. "this region (in common with all parts On of our country) still suffers from financial depression. Business of all kinds is dull and the price of labor low. In the logging camps, men that formerly got $75 per month, now work for $50, or in other words, all kinds of labor has suffered a reduction of about one-third. The prices of wheat, flour, and feed have advanced about ten per cent. Dry goods and groceries remain about the same as usual. The prices of fruits of and vegetables were never before so low as at present. As a sample, strawberries opened at three dollars per gallon and now sell at thirty-three and a third cents and some as low as twelve and a half cents per gallon; cherries and raspberries are also much lower than usual. Eggs have been as low as thirteen cents per dozen, now (June 22nd,) twenty cents. Butter has fallen from seventy-five cents (per roll of two pounds) to fifty cents." |
EVENT |
23 Feb 1886 |
Eagle Harbor, Kitsap Co., WA [61] |
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Lands for the landless 1886 Riley advertises some of his land for sale: "THE SUBSCRIBER. LIVING ON Eagle Harbor, nine miles weat of the city of Seattle, will sell a portion of his homestead in lots of 5, 10 or 20 acres each, at the low rate of $30 per acre, said land has been logged off and burned off until it is quite easily cleared." Likely buyers would be immigrants to Port Blakely seeking work in the Hall brothers saw mill and shipyard. |
EVENT |
10 Apr 1886 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [62] |
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Riley reveals himself to be racist toward the Chinese 1886 Writing to The Osage Chronicle, Riley reveals dislike of Chinese immigrants, first expressed in 1877 in his "gloomy picture of California" (see above), is undiminished: "We have the Chinese excitement still on hand. Most all of them have gone from Seattle, but that does not satisfy the demand for there is a constant fear of their return. There are about one hundred and fifty of Uncle Sam's soldiers quartered in Seattle to make us behave decently, but they can't make us employ Chinese heathens to do our work for us." Elsewhere in the letter he refers to them as leeches. Riley also laments the impact of international trade in coal and lumber on the Northwest: "British ships come to San Francisco ballasted with coal from England and Australia, which they can sell at less cost than it can be produced and carried from here, and it is also of a better quality than ours. Added to all this there is an effort being made to admit Canadian lumber and coal, free of duty; or so nearly so as to work ruin to this region, that is almost entirely dependent on these industries...Some of our largest coal mines are already shut down, and the great saw mills are running on three-fourths time." |
EVENT |
8 Jul 1886 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [63] |
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Shipbuilding at Port Blakely 1886 This letter confirms that the shipbuilding operations expected in his letter of 16 Oct 1884 to The Osage Chronicle are complete and producing ship of very large scale: "This county (Kitsap) is mostly a lumbering region, having four giant sawmills, Port-Blakely, Port Madison, | Port Gamble, and Seabeck. Port Blakely has also an extensive ship yard attached. Ships are being built here at all seasons. One ocean steamer is just completed and there are two more on the stocks. The business prospect for this region is rapidly brightening. Wages are good, and work becoming more plenty. Every ocean steamer brings from twenty to fifty newcomers, beside all that come by way of the North Pacific railroad." This new immigration created an incredibly diverse community in Port Blakely as explained in the video Port Blakely - Memories of a Mill Town produced by Islandwood in 2010. |
EVENT |
16 Aug 1886 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [64] |
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Questions from Kansas 1886 In this lengthy column, Riley responds to 21 questions asked by friends in Kansas about the Washington Territory. A few if his responses are comically crabby: "Would it be best to ship furniture from here?" Riley, ever promoting the the Territory's goods, answers: "No, sell or burn it there is much better, cheaper and finer furniture manufactured in Seattle. Also: "Is it windy there? People raised here don't know what is meant by the term wind." He refers further questions to a Dr. A. W. Hover "who was just here a few days since to see for himself...." |
CENSUS |
May 1887 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [65] |
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1887 Washington State Census: Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA
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EVENT |
7 Jul 1887 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [66] |
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Railroads and murder in Washington Territory 1887 Another letter home to friends in Kansas. This letter talks of the rapid pace of railroad expansion and of a strange series of murder trails. Of the railroads he writes: "The branch railroad across the Cascades is so far completed that cars run over the mountain top on what they call a "switch back" until the completion of the tunnel now being bored through. The other railroad from Seattle eastward is being pushed day and night as fast as man and means can make it. Another from Seattle, northward to the Canadian Pacific, is being surveyed and located and still another is being built as rapidly as possible from the head of Puget Sound to Gray's Harbor, on the Pacific ocean. All these are only a part of the improvements in progress in this great and growing territory." Regarding the murder, "...on the 8th of February 1886, two men were shot to death on Lake Washington while on their way to Seattle. The man that did it was arrested, tried and discharged for want of evidence. Several days thereafter the bodies were found sunk in the lake. The same man was again arrested, tried and the jury disagreed. He was tried the second time with the same result. At his third regular trial he was convicted of murder in the first degree and now awaits sentence." This would be illegal today. You cannot be tried more than once for the same crime. |
EVENT |
14 Oct 1887 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [67] |
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Update on railroads and women's suffrage 1887 Riley gives an update on the status of Washington Territory railroads: "he frst forty miles of the Seattle & Lake Shore railroad are now nearly completed and another forty miles under contract, which will reach the summit of the Cascade mountains, passing through immense beds of coal, iron marble and other valuable mineral products and one of the finest bodies of timber in the world....The railroad from Seattle to British Columbia is progressing tinely People from the east can now come here direct by way of the North Pacific or Canadian Pacific steamers constantly running between Seattle and New West Minister B. C." He also comments of the status of women's suffrage in the territory: "Politically, the woman suffrage question again comes to the front and there will be a bitter contest in the incoming legislature on this subject. Many of the politicians have found out that they can't control the women's vote and so they throw off their mask of friendship and unite with the whisky element to prevent a re-enactment of the equal suffrage law." |
CENSUS |
1889 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [68] |
- Census must have been taken before April because it includes Riley's wife Martha (Fisher) Hoskinson who died in April 1899.
- Riley bizarrely listed as A. F. Hoskinson
Occupation: farmer
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1889 Washington State Census: Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA, p 31
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EVENT |
1 Jan 1889 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [31] |
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The Fir Lands 1889 Another description by Riley describing his family's early years on Bainbridge Island, this one giving the exact date of their arrival. "Came to Bainbridge island February 13, 1878; took a soldiers' homestead in the dense wood, stayed in an old log shanty 'till we could clear a space to build a house, and put in a little garden. Having only $250 to begin operations, we found it pretty hard to make ends meet for the first two years. We had no road, no team, in fact, nothing but strong arms and willing minds. As fast as we could clear a small space we dug it with mattock and spade, planting fruit trees of various kinds, also, small fruits. All of which prospered finely, and yielded a rich reward. Our return of fruit from the second year of residence to date has constantly been on the increase. Till this year we had cherries, plums, prunes and pears by bushels and some 250 bushels of choice apples....We brought with us a few chickens which also proved a success from first start, to date. Last year, we had some 130 brown Leghorn hens, which from January 1, 1887, to 1888, yielded us 1488 dozens of eggs, averaging about 30 cents per dozen. Net profit for the year, $308. From January 1, 1888, to date - December 8, 135 hens have laid 1575 dozens of eggs, netting us a little over $300. Of fruits, we have already sold over $300 worth, and have quite a lot on hand." |
CENSUS |
Jun 1890 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [69] |
- Lists service as Commissary Sergeant, Co. G, 73 Illinois Infantry from 4 Aug 1862 to 12 Jun 1865. Also notes disability: "Hearing affected by shells."
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1890 US Veteran's Census: Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA, p 2
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MILI |
6 Aug 1890 |
Washington [70] |
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Civil War pension index card: Riley M. Hoskinson Com. Sgt. 73 Ill. inf. |
EVENT |
24 Nov 1890 |
Kitsap Co., WA [71] |
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Riley elected to board tasked with preparing Kitsap County bid for World Fair "FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR. Kitsap County is now Thoroughly Organized and in Earnest. Edmond S. Meany, press agent of the Washington World'a Fair Association, left last night for San Juan county to organize his work there. Through his earnest efforts Kitsap county has come into the line for the World's fair....The Kitsap county Board of Trade (tasked with preparing the county's bid) has just been organized. Those of the county's representative citizens who have already been elected to membership in this organization are as follows:...R. M. Hoskinson, of Eagle Harbor." |
EVENT |
2 Apr 1891 |
Seattle, King Co., WA [72] |
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Hoskinson contributes to Washington State Board of Trade pamphlet 1891 After pleading with state officials for years in letters to the editors of Seattle newspapers to promote immigration to the State of Washington, in 1891 Riley is invited to author with a Mr. Bell a section on local climate for just such a publication, to be prepared by the State Board of Trade. "Secretary W. F, Rupert, of the State Board of Trade, has received a number of answers from those whom he has asked to contribute chapters to the forthcoming pamphlet of the board...the signal service observer, Mr. Hoskinson and Mr. Bell, on the climate..." Signal service observers were a group of volunteer weather observers who supplied newspapers and the US government with local weather data. Riley was part of the signal corps in Kansas, became first Seattle's observer upon moving to Seattle and then Port Blakely's observer after moving to Bainbridge Island. |
EVENT |
22 Jul 1891 |
Madrone, Kitsap Co., WA [73] |
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Riley becomes land agent 1891 Riley apparently becomes a land agent for land on Bainbridge Island. This ad ran several times in Jul and Aug 1891. Note the price is much higher than similar land Riley offered for sale in 1883 ($10/acre) and again in 1886 ($30/acre). Land values apparently increased substantially over the decade. "For SALE-LAND ON BOTH SIDES OF Eagle harbor; also 100 acres near Port Blakely; some beautiful bottom and the other upland; well suited for fruit growing, grass or vegetables; all easy of access; two steamers twice each day; sold lands to be sold in lots of 5 acres each at $40 to $60 per acre; terms half or more cash in hand; balance, 1 year with 10 per cent interest; come and see. R. M. Hoskinson, Agent, Madrone post office, Kitsap county, Wash. |
EVENT |
11 Aug 1891 |
Olympia, Thurston Co., WA [74] |
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Washington State weather service established 1891 Washington formalizes the volunteer Signal Service in a state weather service. Riley appointed observer for Port Blakely/Bainbridge Island continuing his role for the Signal Service. "Olympia, Aug 11. - A state weather service has just been established in this city to cooperate with the weather bureau of the department of agriculture.... Stations of observations will be established in each county under the su- pervision of reliable and intelligent observers, whose reports will be published monthly. The following is a list of the observers who now render monthly reports of rainfall, temperature and of miscellaneous meteorological phenomena:...R. Hoskinson; Blakely..." |
EVENT |
6 Sep 1891 |
Madrone, Kitsap Co., WA [75] |
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How to preserve apples 1891 Riley invents a building to preserve apples after picking and shares the details with readers of The Seattle Post Intelligencer. "R. M. Hoskinson, of Madrone, Wash., has sent to the POST-INTELLIGENCER two Newton pippin apples as specimens of a quantity he has preserved fresh for ten months in a house of his own design. The apples are as good as if just picked, the only sign of age being a slight shriveling of the skin. For the information of other fruit growers Mr Hoskinson gives the following description of his storage house..." |
EVENT |
2 Nov 1891 |
Eagle Harbor, Kitsap Co., WA [76] |
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Married half a century 1891 "Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Honkinson, of Eagle Harbor, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding Monday evening last. A very merry company met with them, and after offering congratulations and partaking of delicious refreshments made the worthy couple several costiy presents, a gold lined silver cup and saucer, s gold-headed cane and gold pen being among the gifts." |
EVENT |
11 Mar 1892 |
Eagle Harbor, Kitsap Co., WA [77] |
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Riley organizes Eagle Harbor Republicans 1892 "EAGLE HARBOR, March 11.- (Special) - A rousing Republican meeting was held at the Eagle Harbor schoolhouse Wednesday evening. A club was formed with R. M. Hoskinson in the chair and J. K. Ewing as secretary." |
EVENT |
8 Aug 1892 |
Sidney, Kitsap Co., WA [78] |
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Kitsap County Prohibitionists convention 1892 Riley selected to represent District 1: "SIDNEY, Aug. 8.-- [Special.|-The Prohibitionists of Kitsap county held a county convention at Sidney on August 8, and elected delegates to the state convention and nominated candidates for county offices....Nominations for county officers were made as follows:...R. M. Hoskinson; commissioners--first district, W. H. Morgan; second district, F. A. Grow; third district, S. A. Denniston. The resolutions reaffirm the principles of the national platform and pledge their efforts in securing local reform." |
EVENT |
27 Mar 1895 |
Eagle Harbor, Kitsap Co., WA [79] |
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Riley again offers land for sale This offer ran for at least a couple weeks in Mar and Apr editions of The Seattle Post Intelligencer. "FOR SALE - Improved and lands at Eagle Harbor, Kitsay county, Wash. prices 30 to 50 per cent lower than two years ago; three improved pieces have dwellings, outhouses, fruit orchards etc.; terms easy, Address R. M. Hoskinson, Madrone P. O., Wash." |
EVENT |
1896 |
Eagle Harbor, Kitsap Co., WA |
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Riley M. Hoskinson homestead and surrounding area ca. 1896-1897 This photo was taken from the Hoskinson homestead by Riley Hoskinson's son Stewart. The camera direction is the reverse of the first photo of the Hoskinson homestead, with the camera now located behind the windmill seen in the first picture looking toward the barn (center of this photo) and beyond. Based on this photo, the camera location in the first photograph was at the crossroads to the right of the church located in the middle distance center of this photo. Riley and neighbor Ambrose Grow were driving forces behind the building the church, the Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, (left with bell tower) and school (to the right of the church.) In late 1883, took out an advertisement in The Seattle Post Intelligencer seeking a teacher for this school. The church was completed in 1896, dating the photo, per this history of the building from the Bremerton Sun. Note also this photo was taken in fall or winter, because the fruit trees in the picture are devoid of leaves. You can see in this photo some garden paths and garden plots amongst the tress. The white house to the left of the church is the church parsonage. The pole located closest to the camera is very interesting. It appears to be steel (which would have been quite expensive to buy and haul to Bainbridge Island) and quite tall, anchored at the bottom, with the angled white line that crosses the left of the photo suggesting a guy line or wire to hold the pipe steady in high winds. My guess is atop this pole would have been wind speed and direction instruments to aid Riley's weather measurements. The pole does not appear in the first photo of the Hoskinson homestead suggesting this photo was taken after the first, and the pole a later additional to the property. Was the pole perhaps provided to Riley by the Signal Service? On the far left, the deforested and burned land of the first photo is again evident. There also appears to be a large section of land deforested, but not yet burned beyond the church and the white house. You can still see the tree stumps sticking out of the ground. Behind the school the land appears to have been completely cleared except for a couple tress. Some of this land is certainly the land Riley offered for sale beginning in Nov 1883 and was still offering for sale in Mar 1895. His 1886 advertisement specifically offers land has been logged and burned, but not yet cleared suggesting the property on the left of the photo. The plat map for the Hoskinson homestead suggests all of the land in the picture may have been owned by Riley Hoskinson. Finally, note this photo shows the pallisade style fencing seen fronting that road in the first photo continues as the road extends past the church and school. You can also see it fronting the road that runs left to right in front of the white house, church and school. It would have been quite an undertaking to construct so much closed fencing, involving many thousands of individual boards. This photo appeared in the 19 Nov 2017 edition of the Kitsap Sun with the following caption: "Riley Hoskinson operated this weather station and windmill at his home just north of Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island from 1878 to 1889. He gathered weather observations every day and sent regular reports to Washington, D.C. Hoskinson's station is flanked in the distance by the Eagle Harbor Congregational Church's parsonage and church center. Madrone's second school is on the upper right.." |
EVENT |
6 Feb 1896 |
Eagle Harbor, Kitsap Co., WA [80] |
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Opportunity in small farms 1896 The information in this article from The Aberdeen Herald was apparently first published in the Seattle Times. I cannot find of copy of the Times article. Excerpts of the Times article were also published outside Washington Territory in at least two newspapers, the Cottonwood Report from Cottonwood, Idaho and the Big Timber Pioneer from Big Timber, Montana. The article summarizes Riley's almost two decade experience farming on Bainbridge Island and is most interesting for stating clearly that of the 160 acres of land he was granted in 1882 under the 1862 Homestead Act, he only ever farmed about five acres. While he cleared more land than this, his offers to sell through the years were an attempt to sell acreage he never intended to farm himself. "It has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that any man with sufficient pluck and energy to tackle the logs and brush of these uplands can make a good living on five, or at most ten, acres....The upland soil looks exceedingly thin, but will, with a little help in the form of manure, produce splendid crops of vegetables, and for fruit growing these lands are rarely excelled anywhere. Apples, pears, plums, prunes and cherries, together with strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants and blackberries, all thrive and bear abundantly. And the better the land is cultivated and cared for, the more and better it will produce. The writer of this cultivates some five acres, and sells therefrom each year some $650 worth of various products, such as fruit, vegetables, chickens, eggs, butter, &c. And what one man has done another can do, with like brains and perseverance....There is a large amount of such land around Aberdeen that can be bought for from $10 to $20 per acre, enough which when so cultivated will support a population of tens of thousands. The small farms is made an absolute necessity by reason of the difficulty with which the land in cleared, but nature seems to have made ample compensation for this in a soil exceedingly fertile and a climate of such mildness that growth is continuous and outdoor work can be carried on the year around." |
EVENT |
18 Feb 1897 |
Port Blakely, Kitsap Co., WA [81] |
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Riley writes of intent to move to Waycross 1897 To the Savannah Morning News, Riley, ever the prohibitionist, writes, "Waycross is my first choice of southern localities...and I have visited various states in the south, having spent three years of the late war with my son in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. I am a native of Virginia, but was opposed to slavery and joined the federal armv. My son and I intended to locate in Fitzgerald but as the town voted for barrooms, we abandoned the idea." It would be more than two years before the Hoskinson's actually moved to Waycross in 1899. |
CENSUS |
15 Jun 1900 |
Waycross, Ware Co., GA [82] |
- Riley living with son Stewart Hoskinson's family.
- Riley's age is correct but birth year incorrectly listed as 1829. Should be 1819.
- Listed correctly as widowed
No occupation listed
Can read and write
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1900 US Census: Waycross, Ware Co., GA, sht 31B
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EVENT |
28 Jan 1901 |
Waycross, Ware Co., GA [83] |
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Riley's 82nd birthday party 1901 "Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Hoskinson celebrated the eighty-second birthday of their father, Rliey M. Hoskinson, today with a dinner. Only a few friends were invited, but it was a very pleasant affair." |
EVENT |
27 Jul 1901 |
Waycross, Ware Co., GA [84] |
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Hoskinson place for sale 1901 It appears that the Hoskinsons decided to leave Waycross long before they actually left in May 1902. Here they put the farm up for sale in 1901. "For the next ten days we will offer the Hoskinson place, containing 16 acres of land with six-room cottage and other fine improvements for $1,150. The place cost $1,700." |
EVENT |
5 Oct 1901 |
Waycross, Ware Co., GA [85] |
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September weather 1901 Riley took his weather equipment with him when he moved to Georgia, continued to report of the weather at his new home. This example from Oct 1901: "Mr. R. M. Hoskinson, voluntary observer, reports September as the dryest month of the year. There were only five days when more than one inch of rain fell...." |
EVENT |
15 Feb 1902 |
Waycross, Ware Co., GA [86] |
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Hoskinson place still for sale 1902 Nine months later and the place still hasn't sold. "For the next thirty days we will offer the Hoskinson place, containing sixteen acres, seven room cottage (note was a six room house in the original ad) (hard finish inside), stables, barn and other outhouses; also new farm and garden implements and house hold and kitchen furniture, also one-horse wagon & harness. This property cost $1,700 and is a perfect home. We will sell it now for $1,075." |
EVENT |
8 May 1902 |
Waycross, Ware Co., GA [87] |
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Hoskinsons leave Georgia for Illinois 1902 "Mr. R. M. Hoskinson, and his son Mr. S. F. Hoskinson and family, left last night for Hoopeston, Ill., where they will reside. The Hoskinsons came to Waycross three years ago from Illinois, and have since made their home among us, living just on the edge of the city where they owned a pretty little farm. Recently they have sold their home to Mr. C. C. Buchanan, and on account of the poor health of Mrs. S. F. Hoskinson, they will move back to Illinois." |
EVENT |
14 May 1902 |
Waycross, Ware Co., GA [88] |
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Pensioners return to Illinois 1902 "Mr. S. F Hoskinson has sold his farm north of the city to Mr. C. C. Buchanan, and has moved to Hoopston, Ill. In the family are Mr. Hoskinson, his wife, little daughter and his father, R. M. Hoskinson. The old gentleman is 84 years of age. Both the father and son are Union soldiers and receive pensions aggregating $36 per month from the government. They came here two or three years ago from Washington state." |
EVENT |
19 May 1902 |
Hoopeston, Vermilion Co., IL [89] |
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Riley brags about Hoopeston 1902 Riley brags about Hoopeston, with a lot of snark, to The Waycross Journal: "Please find a few words from this place of wealth and beauty. This city is laid out in a square...S.E. and W. Its streets are (missing) feet wide, 20 feet in center and with hard brick, six feet on each side, set in blue grass and shade trees of maple and box elder; inside these some five feet of sidewalk is paved with brick, or cement. (This picture shows downtown Hoopeston as Riley would have seen it in 1902.) The dwellings stand back from 20 to 30 feet from the sidewalk. All this space in covered with bluegrass, and NO COWS AT LARGE (apparently a problem in Waycross?). The scene is one of indiscribable beauty. Mostly the business houses, the churches, schoolhouses, and the various factories are of stone and brick costing from $5,000 to $26,000. One factory, occupying three large three-story brick buildings, is devoted to making cans, and turns out daily 350,000 cans, cut and finished by machinery....and living is at least 25 per cent cheaper." Riley goes on to trash farming in Waycross: "In place of the sluggish methods of ploughing and planting with you, the soil is broken at least a foot deep, then harrowed smooth and fine, then planted with drills....The after cultivation is all done with barrows and hoe cultivators, the surface being kept level the entire year. No such butchery is done here as there. The pasture fields are, now waving with timothy, bluegrass, or clover, and instead of cattle too poor to chew the cud, are roaling fat, fit beef at all times, and great hogs, in heards that are a pleasure to look at." Given its criticisms of Waycross, I'm surprised the editor published the letter. I wonder at the letter's accuracy given Riley had only been in Hoopeston ten days or less when his letter was written. |
EVENT |
15 Sep 1902 |
Hoopeston, Vermilion Co., IL [90] |
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The Hoopeston cannery 1902 In this letter to The Waycross Weekly Herald, Riley goes into great detail describing a cannery in Hoopeston. Canning factories were the mainstay of the town. In 1902 there were three canneries in Hoopeston. These companies made Hoopeston a very self-sufficient little town. Both the equipment used in the canning industry, and cans and lids were made locally. Area farmers provided a lot of the product that was canned in the factories. It's interesting to note that Riley's letter suggests that many (most?) of the canning factory employees were women. This picture shows the Illinois Canning factory circa 1900. The Illinois Canning Company was established by S.S. McCall in 1875. It has changed ownership several times, but is still in operation as of 1 Jan 2024, owned since 2012 by Teasdale Latin Foods. |
EVENT |
25 Sep 1902 |
Hoopeston, Vermilion Co., IL [91] |
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More on Hoopeston 1902 In this letter to The Waycross Weekly Herald Riley repeats much of his letter of 19 May 1902, adding a few interesting details: "There are four automobiles in town and bicycles almost innumerable. There are horses from the fast trotter to Clydesdale draught, some of which weigh 1700 each, capable of drawing enormous loads." Riley also very happy that Hoopeston appears to be a dry town: "There being no intoxicants allowed in the city, like Waycross, is so quiet that each day seems like Sunday. There are only three policemen, one for day and two for night. Rarely either of them have anything to do." |
Death |
7 Nov 1905 |
Hoopeston, Vermilion Co., IL [1] |
- Died at the home of his son Stuart F. Hoskinson, North Market street, at 4:50 Tuesday afternoon, of old age and dropsy after an illness of several months. Funeral services will be held at the home at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon under the auspices of the I. O. O. F. lodge of this city. Rev. D. S. McCaslin officiating, followed by interment at Floral Hill cemetery.
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Obituary: Riley M. Hoskinson 1905 "From Hoopeston Daily Herald November 8. Father Hoskinson died at the bome of his son Stuart F. Hoskinson, North Market street, at 4:50 Tuesday afternoon, of old age and dropsy after an illness of several months. Funeral services will be held at the home at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon under the auspices of the I. 0. 0. F. lodge of this city. Rev. D. S. McCaslin officiating, followed by interment at Floral Hill cemetery. Riley M. Hoskinson was born in Monongalia County, West Virginia, January 26, 1819. At the age of nineteen he was converted and joined the Presbyterian church. He was united in marriage to Martha Fisher in Westmoreland-County, Penn, Nov. 2, 1841. To them were | burn eight children, seven of whom are still living. Stuart F.. the oldest, with whom he made bis home in this city; Mrs. Eliza J. Freeman, Lafayette, Oregon, Mrs. Sarah E, Kirkban (should read Kirkham), Prineville, Oregon: Mrs C. A. McCabe, Neodesho, Kansas Mrs. Mary E. Amy, who died in Louisiana several years ago; Mrs Ida L. Anderson, Port Blakeley Washington; William C. Winslow, Washington; Geo. W. Meeker (typo, Meeker repeated from Camp Meeker, not Geo. W's last name), Camp Meeker, California. In 1853 they moved from Pennsylvania to Rushville, Ill, He enlisted in the army of the North in 1861, in 1862 which he served as commissary sergeant with the 73 Illinois until the close of the war. In 1866 he and his family moved to Auburn Kansas. In 1876 they moved to Coverdale, California, thence to Washington, and settled in what is now known as Eagle Harbor, being the second to build in that place. In 1889 he moved to the state of Georgia, where his wife died seven years ago. He came to Hoopeston with his son in 1902. Mr. Hoskinson has lived a consistent christian since his conversion sixty-eight years ago. His early membership was with the Presbyterian church; while he and his family lived in Pennsylvania and Illinois they allied themselves with the M. E. church. After moving to California they united with the Congregational church, and while at Eagle Harbor, he organized Sunday school that afterwards grew to be a very strong Congregational church When he came to Hoopeston he united with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Hoskinson joined the Odd Fellows in 1831 of which he has been a member ever since. He also joined the Masons in the army camp in 1863 of which he was still a member. (The Martha Fisher mentioned above as the wife of Mr. Hoskinson, was a sister of John Fisher of this city, now deceased, and'a half sister of Abel and Thomas Fisher, both residents of Blandinsville, and Matthias Fisher of Novelty, Mo.--Ed.)" |
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Washington pioneer dies in Illinois 1905 "Riley Hoskinson, Who Came to Seattle in 1877, Passes Away at Hoopeston. HOOPESTON, Ill. Thursday, Nov. 16. Riley M. Hoskinson died at the home of his son Stuart F. Hoskinson, last week of old age and dropsy after an illness of several months. Mr. Hoskinson was born in Monongalia (Monongahela) County, West Virginia (should read Pennsylvania), January 26, 1819. In 1853 he moved to Rushville, Ill. He enlisted in the army of the North in 1863, in which he served as commissary sergeant with the Seventy-third Illinois until the close of the war. In 1866 he and his family moved to Auburn, Kansas. In 1876 they moved to Cloverdale, Cal, and to Seattle, Wash. in May, 1877. In April, 1878, he took up a homestead on Bainbridge Island at Eagle Harbor (now Winslow postoffice), near Seattle, where he resided until his removal to Waycross, Ga., in February 1899. He came to Hoopeston in 1902. Two children reside in Washington, William C. Hoskinson at Winslow, and Mrs. Ida L Anderson, at Port Blakeley. |
Burial |
9 Nov 1905 |
Floral Hill Cemetery, Iroquois Co., IL [1] |
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Headstone: Riley M. and Martha Fisher Hoskinson
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Person ID |
I249 |
Main |
Last Modified |
21 Dec 2023 |